Culture, communities and society

Abstract

It is evident from the introduction to this chapter that sub-Saharan Africa has a complex maritime culture. The maritime culture of sub-Saharan Africa is understood as the heritage, legacy and traditions inherited from past generations, focusing on human interaction with the ocean. The chapter argues that the sea is an inextricable part of sub-Saharan African culture, represented in going to sea, coming from across the sea, belief systems, the economic exploitation of the sea, artefacts, maritime power, and shore-based practices that have evolved due to human interaction with the oceans. Despite colonialism and the introduction of Christianity and Islam, traditional belief systems remain prominent as some coastal fishing communities in Ghana still embrace traditional beliefs related to the sea and fishing. The loss of population in Africa was not evenly shared as some areas suffered disproportionally, and others profited from the trade, yet it destroyed people and whole cultures, destabilizing and changing the African continent forever.